The 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry was constituted in the
Regular Army as Troop D, 12th Cavalry Regiment on February 2, 1901 and was
organized on April 24th 1901 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

For additional Regimental historical information for the
period of 1901 through 1949 see the 12th Cavalry Regiment history at xxxxxxx

4th Squadron History

The 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 15
February 1962 its Cadre coming from the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment and
subsequently was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), with
movement to Fort Carson, Colorado on 17 February 1962.

From 1962 to 1965 the Squadron has participated in various
exercises as a separate unit and as a part of the division. Some of the major
exercises were:

Exercise

Dates

Area

Swift Strike II

8 August 1962 - 15 August 1962

South Carolina

We Will

2 October 1962 - 16 October 1962

Fort Carson

Swift Strike III

4-August 1963 - 16 August 1963

South Carolina

Cooly Crest

5 May 1963 - 20 May 1963

Washington

Desert Strike

5 April 1964 - 9 June 1964

California

In addition, Squadron tankers traveled to Fort Irwin,
California for tank gunnery exercises various times since its activation.

In 1968, A
Troop of the 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry deployed to Vietnam from Fort Carson as
part of the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) arriving on July 27,
1968. When the Brigade departed Vietnam in August 1971, Troop A remained behind
and was attached to the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry which was part of the 101st
Airborne Division (Airmobile). On November 30, 1971 Troop A departed Vietnam.
Visit the Troop A web site at
http://www.atroop412cav.com/

The Squadron served at Fort Polk from 1976 until its
deactivation in 1990.

Source: Portions of the history are from the
pamphlet titled IN FRONT OF THE BEST - A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 4th
SQUADRON, 12th CAVALRY 1901 -
1965, on the Troop A, 4/12 Cavalry web site at
http://www.atroop412cav.com/history/booklet/

4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry
Annual History Supplement, 1968

I. THE COMMAND

A. General

Under the leadership of LTC John M. Fairey, Calendar Year 1968 was
unquestionably the most eventful in the history of the 4th Squadron, 12th
Cavalry since its activation in 1962.

Highlights in the year's history of the 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry included
the transfer of A Troop to Vietnam in June, the deployment of elements of the
Squadron to the eastern cities in connection with civil disturbances in
April, the arrival and subsequent attachment of E Troop 114th Cavalry (69th Infantry
Brigade), and the conduct of command post and field training excises throughout the
year.

B. Mission, Objectives, and Policies

The most important missions or projects in 1968 were the deployment of A
Troop to Vietnam and the reception of E Troop, 114th Cavalry at Ft. Carson. Both
of these projects required an increase in training activities especially in
light of the requirements, to maintain readiness posture and to provide support
for forces deployed overseas.

The major policies of the command in 1968 were as follows:
a. Continue training as published in pertinent Training Directives.
b. Increase combat readiness by testing weapons and equipment in field exercises.
c. Recognize material readiness to be of equal importance as personnel readiness.
d. Improve standards of maintenance of combat equipment to include the
individual soldier's combat gear.

C. Squadron Commanders

LTC Selwyn P. Rogers assumed command of the 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry on 2
June 1967 and remained in this position until his reassignment to G-3, 5th
Infantry Division (Mechanized) on 18 March 1968,

Major Donald T. Kirby served as interim Commander of the 4th Squadron, 12th
Cavalry from 18 March 1968 to 7 April 1968.

LTC John M. Fairey became commanding officer of the 4th Squadron, 12th
Cavalry on 8 April 1968.

II. PERSONNEL ACTIVITIES

A. Key personnel

Unit

Commander

Rank/Branch

Start

End

HQS & HQS Troop

Jacobson, Gary A.

1LT ARMOR

2 Sep 67

19 May 68

HQS & HQS Troop

Boswell, James H.

1LT, ARMOR

20 May 68

Present

Troop B

Moss, John L.

Captain, ARMOR

7 Dec 67

Present

Troop C

Kyle, Frederick A.

Captain, ARMOR

27 May 67

21 Jun 68

Troop C

Louis, Geoffrey

Captain, ARMOR

22 Jun 68

Present

Troop D

Cherry, Jack M

Captain, ARMOR

8 Dec 67

Present

Troop E

Stanton, Stephen S.

Captain, ARMOR

13 May 68

Present

The Squadron Sergeant Major during all of 1968 was SGM
Raymond T. Kelly. On 31 July 1968, he was promoted to
Command Sergeant Major.

B. Strength

At the beginning of the year, Squadron strength figures were
as follows:

Officers

Warrant Officer

Enlisted

Total

Total Personnel Authorized

45

22

719

786

Total
Personnel Assigned

38

3

568

609

During the year, Squadron strength fluctuated widely due to
incoming RVN
returnees and to ETS losses. Authorized strength was changed
by General
Order #315 effective 19 September 1968.

At the end of 1968,
Squadron strength was as follows:

Officers

Warrant Officer

Enlisted

Total

Total Personnel Authorized

41

22

636

699

Total
Personnel Assigned

39

2

533

574

III. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

A. Movement of A Troop to Vietnam

The training program of A Troop prior to shipment overseas
is covered in detail in Section IV, Training Activities. The
re-equipping of the Troop is explained in Section V,
Logistic Activities.

The advance party of the 1st Brigade included most of A
Troop, which consisted of 5 officers and 220 enlisted men.
They departed from Peterson Field in C141 Aircraft on 1
July. The balance of the Troop departed during the period of
22-30 July.

The bulk of the equipment of A Troop was shipped by rail
from Fort Carson to the Military Ocean Terminal, Bay Area (MOTBA),
Oakland, California, then by ship to Da Nang, Vietnam.

B. Activation of E Troop, 114th
Cavalry, 69th Infantry Brigade

The Troop was ordered to active duty as of 13 May 1968 in a
message received from DA dated 11 April 1968. The Troop
remained at its home station for 10 days after its induction
to accomplish administrative and logistic tasks.
On 23 May the Troop arrived at Fort Carson. On 19 September
1968 the Troop was detached from the 69th Infantry Brigade and
attached to 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry, by General Order
#274 dated 19 September 1968. The squadron had been involved
in assisting the Troop in logistic preparations and training
prior to this formal attachment.

C. Operation GARDEN PLOT

The 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry added as a filler unit to
bring major GARDEN PLOT elements up to required strengths.
In this capacity, Squadron elements participated in and
conducted civil disturbance training, and were involved in
the April deployment in connection with civil disturbances.

IV. TRAINING ACTIVITIES

A. Training Mission, Objectives, and Policies

The training mission of the 4th Squadron 12th Cavalry was to
maintain a high level of combat readiness and to insure the
successful accomplishment of assigned missions. Notable
among assigned missions were individual and unit training,
civil disturbance training, Troop A training, and Troop E,
114th Cavalry training.

In March, the 1st Brigade as given the commitment to train
and prepare for deployment to Vietnam within 12 weeks, thus
initiating the intensive training program for A Troop. The
training commenced on 25 March 1968 and
consisted of 8 weeks of Squadron training, followed by 4
weeks of Brigade level training.

Essentially, what was accomplished at the Squadron level was
to take a 10 week Armored Cavalry Troop ATP, increase the
RVN oriented areas, place considerable emphasis on live fire
exercises, and complete the training in
an 8 week time period. Concurrently, the A Troop tankers
were firing their annual Tank Gunner Qualification
administered by the 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry. The training
an ability of A Troop proved so exceptional compared to the
remainder of the Brigade, that he Brigade Commander chose
them as the security force for his advance party. This can
only be attributed to the aggressive spirit and cooperative
effort of the men of A Troop, 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry.

Training objectives were in line with accomplishment of
assigned missions and in accordance with applicable training
directives. These Squadron objectives included increasing
individual and unit proficiency in all phases
of combat operations to include CBR warfare and use of SOPIs.
A continuing objective was that of proper presentation of
mandatory subjects.

Training policies were based on a view toward the
accomplishment of training objectives rather than the
completion of a specified number of hours for each soldier.
It was found that this approach greatly simplified
structuring of training programs as well as providing
adequate time for completion of mandatory training.

B. Highlights of 1968's training were as follows:

Individual and Small Unit Training

1 Jan- 4 Feb

Tank Gunnery Program

5 Feb - 5 May

Civil Disturbance Training

1Mar - 30 Mar

Troop A Training for deployment to RVN

25 Mar - 1 Jun

Training Advisory Assistance to E/114

24 Jun -19 Aug

Platoon Tactical Training

5 May - 13 Jul

Troop Tactical Training

12 Oct - 25
Oct

Squadron Tactical Training

12 Oct - 25 Oct

Division Command Post Exercises

19 Aug - 21 Aug

24 Sep - 26 Sep

22 Oct - 25 Oct

5 Nov - 8 Nov

Division Field Training Exercises

18
Nov - 22 Nov

V. LOGISTICAL ACTIVITIES

A. Equipping of A Troop, as far as the 4th Squadron, 12th
Cavalry was concerned, simply involved a lateral transfer of
property from the Squadron property book to A Troop, thus
establishing a separate property book for them. From that
point, (about 19 March 1968), until the Troop's deployment,
A Troop re-equipped with the 1st Brigade. That r-equipping
is covered in detail in the 5th Division Annual Historical
Supplement for 1968.

B. Upon notification of the arrival of E troop, 114th
Cavalry, 69th Infantry Brigade, the Squadron began
preparations for reception of the Troop. This preparation
involved repairing barracks assigned to E Troop
and drawing and setting up bunks, foot lockers, wall lockers
and other fixtures. Several of the Squadron's Troops were
required to move into smaller areas and into new barracks in
order to accommodate E Troop. The remainder of the year was
spent supporting E Troop as one of the Squadron's organic
elements within limitations imposed by separate property
books.

VI. INSPECTIONS

The Annual General Inspection for 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry
was held during
5-10 February 1968. Results of the inspection were as
follows:

Headquarters and Headquarters Troop - Excellent

A Troop -
Excellent

B Troop -
Satisfactory

C Troop -
Satisfactory

D Troop -
Excellent

Squadron overall rating -
Excellent

The Squadron Command Maintenance Management Inspection was
conducted on 6-10 September 1968. The Troop inspected was
E, 114th Cavalry, and their rating was an overall
SATISFACTORY.

One Troop underwent the Commanding Genera's Inspection on 19
October 1968. The Troop inspected was E Troop, 114th
Cavalry, and their rating was an overall SATISFACTORY.

VII. NON-TOE UNITS

A noteworthy element of the 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry not
shown on the TO&E
is the Squadron Horse Platoon.

This ceremonial unit is composed of 21 enlisted men, a
stable of 21 horses,
and accompanying uniforms and equipment. The men wear blue
Cavalry uniforms
patterned after those worn during the first two years of the
Squadron's
history, at the turn of the Twentieth Century.

The following schedule shows selected activities in which
the Horse Platoon
participated during the last year:

January-June Retirement Reviews
at Fort Carson

March St. Patrick's Day
Parade in
Denver

June Ceremonial
Parade in Pueblo

July Centennial
Activities in
Cheyenne, Wyoming

August Pikes Peak or
Bust Rodeo at
Colorado Springs

August
50th
Anniversary of
Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver

October Mounted Aggressors
on Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Fort
Carson